Disgraced ‘Real Housewives’ Husband Faces Justice for $15M Fraud

Once a high-profile celebrity lawyer with a reputation for winning high-stakes cases, Tom Girardi has now become the face of one of the most shocking legal falls from grace in U.S. history. The 84-year-old is well known to the public as the ex-husband of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Erika Jayne.

On June 3, 2025, Girardi was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for wire fraud after he was found guilty of embezzling more than $15 million from vulnerable clients. The ruling concludes an extensive investigation that exposed Girardi’s law firm as a front for what prosecutors dubbed “a decades-long scheme of theft and deception.”

The $15 Million Wire Fraud That Brought Girardi Down

Girardi was indicted in 2023 on several counts of wire fraud tied to stolen settlement money. Prosecutors say he exploited funds meant for clients to bankroll his lifestyle of private jets, flashy dinners, firm expenditures, and even his wife Erika Jayne’s music career.

Consequently, those he was hired to help were left with little to nothing. The most tragic cases involved payouts from settlements following the 2018 Lion Air Flight 610 crash, in which families received only a fraction, if any, of the compensation they were legally entitled to. In other cases, burn victims, cancer patients, and widows were defrauded of settlements totaling millions.

“Mr. Girardi preyed on those who had already suffered catastrophic loss,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Garringer. “He exploited their pain for personal gain, which makes this crime particularly egregious.”

Girardi’s Mental Health Defense and the Court’s Ruling

Girardi’s sentencing comes after years of legal wrangling around his mental competency. Girardi’s lawyers declared the man had Alzheimer’s and dementia and argued he was mentally unfit to stand trial. The court held multiple hearings, and Girardi participated in numerous medical evaluations in the months following the issuance of the proclamation. Ultimately, the judge ruled that he was competent to face the charges.

While some legal experts questioned whether his cognitive condition should have reduced his culpability, the judge emphasized that the crimes occurred during a period when Girardi was still actively practicing law and managing millions of dollars in client funds.

Erika Jayne and the Reality TV Fallout

Though Erika Jayne was never charged with any crime, her name remained closely tied to the scandal. As a cast member on Bravo’s Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Jayne showcased an extravagant lifestyle that was later called into question. Court documents and Bravo footage were even cited in public and legal discussions about the couple’s finances.

Jayne filed for divorce in late 2020, just weeks before Girardi’s legal troubles became public. While she claims that she was unaware of the wrongdoing, she has faced multiple civil lawsuits demanding she return gifts and funds traced back to Girardi’s firm. As of June 2025, several of those cases are still pending.

How Much Time Will Girardi Serve and Will Victims Be Paid?

Girardi was sentenced to seven years in prison. Significantly less than the 20 years he could have faced under federal guidelines. The judge took into account both the gravity of his crimes and his age when delivering his final verdict.

Girardi has also been ordered to pay back more than $15 million to his victims. But many doubt they’ll ever see that money. Girardi’s law firm is gone, and there are still mountains of debt and civil lawsuits to get through.

Girardi will serve his sentence at a low-security federal medical center due to his age and reported health conditions.

Justice Served? Reactions to a Landmark Legal Case

“This wasn’t just a lawyer breaking the rules,” said Loyola Law School professor Jessica Levinson. “It was a systemic abuse of trust, carried out over decades by someone who was supposed to be a voice for the voiceless.”

For victims and their families, the sentencing brought a contrasting combination of closure and frustration. Many say no amount of prison time can undo the financial and emotional damage Girardi bestowed upon them.

Girardi’s Era of Influence Ends in Handcuffs

Tom Girardi’s fall from legal giant to convicted felon marks the end of a long, messy scandal. His seven-year prison sentence and $15 million restitution order bring some closure. But for many victims, justice still feels out of reach.

Plenty of victims are still empty-handed, and chances are, they won’t see a dime. The fortune is gone, the firm is shut down, and what’s left is tangled up in lawsuits that could drag on for years. Even with the criminal case wrapped, the wreckage Girardi left behind is far from settled.